Visual interpretations of sustainability: comparative approaches and introduction of an integrated model for the decision making

No hay un solo enfoque de la Sostenibilidad. Las diversas propuestas conceptuales pueden representarse gráficamente, de forma que cada modelo resultante plasma la importancia que el/la autor/a otorga a las diferentes dimensiones que configuran la sostenibilidad. La interpretación visual es un medio que ayuda a comprender mejor y perfeccionar el desarrollo de conceptos. Su aplicación a la Sostenibilidad aporta un valor añadido porque sintetiza conceptos, consolida enfoques y le otorga operatividad. Las propuestas de interpretación visual de la Sostenibilidad se basan, entre otras figuras espaciales, en los diagramas de Venn, en los círculos concéntricos y no concéntricos, en algunas propuestas geométricas como el triángulo de la sostenibilidad, y en las representaciones vectoriales. Los modelos están evolucionado al tiempo que lo hace la propia concepción teórica de la Sostenibilidad que se configura como un concepto multidimensional y multifuncional. En un inicio, las representaciones contemplaban las tres dimensiones básicas de la Sostenibilidad: social, medioambiental y económica. Progresivamente se ha ido incluyendo una cuarta dimensión, que puede variar de un autor a otro y que, en este caso, se identifica con la político-institucional, si bien también se van aceptando otras dimensiones como la cultural y la global. En este trabajo se comparan diversas propuestas de interpretación visual ya existentes para representar la Sostenibilidad y se presenta una nueva, de tipo vectorial, que incluye las cuatro dimensiones. Los/as autores/as presentan su modelo con un objetivo principal: ayudar a visualizar las interacciones y los procesos de sostenibilidad en la toma de decisiones relacionadas con el nuevo paradigma del desarrollo sostenible.There is no single approach to Sustainability. The several different conceptual proposals can be graphically represented in a way that each resultant model depicts the importance that the author(s) give to the different dimensions defining sustainability. Visual interpretation is a better way to help understand and enhance the concept of development. Its application to Sustainability contributes with a value added, since it synthesizes concepts, consolidates approaches and grants it with functionality. The visual interpretation proposals of Sustainability are based, among other spatial figures, on the Venn’s diagrams on concentric and non-concentric circles, on some geometrical proposals such as the sustainability triangle, and vector representations. Models and the own theoretical conception of Sustainability which is configured as a multidimensional and multifunctional concept are simultaneously evolving. In the beginning, representations included the three basic Sustainability dimensions: social, environmental and economic. Little by little, a fourth dimension has being included, which may vary from one author to another and that, in such case, it is identified with the political-institutional dimension, although other dimensions such as the cultural and global ones are also being accepted. In this paper, several visual interpretation proposals for Sustainability -already existent- are being compared. Yet, a new vector-type proposal which includes a fourth dimension is presented. The authors present this model with the primary objective of: helping to visualize sustainability interactions and processes in decision-making processes related to the new paradigm of sustainable development.Peer Reviewe

Medición de las capacidades tecnológicas para la innovación en los sistemas de conocimiento e innovación agrícola

Innovation systems’ knowledge and technology generation, diffusion and use functions are associated with technological innovation capabilities (TICs). TICs play a crucial role in the innovating performance of agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKISs). Yet, the perspectives of current methods do not facilitate a dynamical and organizational understanding of TICs and, thus, innovation systems. This paper proposes a method that relates TICs to an organizational behavior model to measure the TIC level. We apply the method through a survey of 256 coffee AKIS firms and 74 avocado AKIS firms in Antioquia, Colombia. The results presented confirm that the measurement of TIC levels and their dynamics over time provides a better understanding of innovation processes to evaluate and identify existing gaps between TICs and these systems’ innovation functions.Las funciones de generación, difusión y uso de conocimiento y tecnología en los sistemas de innovación están asociadas a las capacidades tecnológicas para la innovación (TICs, por su sigla en inglés), las cuales juegan un papel fundamental en el desempeño innovador de los sistemas de conocimiento e innovación agrícola (AKIS, por su sigla en inglés). No obstante, las metodologías actuales no exhiben perspectivas que faciliten la comprensión dinámica y organizacional de las TICs, lo que dificulta la comprensión de dichos sistemas. Este artículo presenta una propuesta metodológica para medir el nivel de las TICs al asociarlas a un modelo de comportamiento organizacional para aplicarlo en una muestra de 256 organizaciones del AKIS del café y 74 organizaciones del AKIS del aguacate en el departamento de Antioquia (Colombia). Los resultados confirman que la medición del nivel de las TICs y de sus variaciones dinámicas en el tiempo permite mejorar la comprensión de los procesos de innovación y evaluar e identificar las brechas existentes entre las TICs y las funciones de innovación de estos sistemas. &nbsp

Mapping of the atmospheric deposition of sulfur and nitrogen during the dry season 2016 in the Metropolitan zone of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract. Atmospheric deposition of sulfur and nitrogen was measured in the Metropolitan Area of Merida, Yucatan in Mexico during the dry season of 2016. Passive samplers type "throughfall" based on ion exchange resins were used to measure the hydrological flows in a total of 9 sampling sites distributed throughout the city. The ions retained in the resin were analyzed by turbidimetry and colorimetry to determine Ammonium, Nitrate and Sulfate. Deposition fluxes of S and N obtained were 6.25 and 5.19 Kg ha-1 yr-1. Both, sulfur and nitrogen atmospheric deposition fluxes were higher in urban sites, exceeding almost 2 times, the reference values proposed internationally for sensitive ecosystems. From the analysis of wind roses and air masses trajectories, it was possible to establish that during this climatic season, in addition to the local vehicular emissions, regional emissions generated upwind (from E-SE) contributed to atmospheric deposition of these ions. Finally, N and S deposition fluxes and their relationship with criteria pollutants were assessed, and maps for atmospheric deposition fluxes of Ammonium, Sulfate and Nitrate were generated using geo-statistical tools in order to identify critical deposition zones in this Metropolitan zone

Epidermal growth factor enhances osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells in vitro

Introduction: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) play an important role in extracellular matrix mineralization, a complex process required for proper bone regeneration, one of the biggest challenges in dentistry. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic potential of EGF and bFGF on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Material and methods: Human DPSCs were isolated using CD105 magnetic microbeads and characterized by flow cytometry. To induce osteoblast differentiation, the cells were cultured in osteogenic medium supplemented with EGF or bFGF at a low concentration. Cell morphology and expression of CD146 and CD10 surface markers were analyzed using fluorescence microscopy. To measure mineralization, an alizarin red S assay was performed and typical markers of osteoblastic phenotype were evaluated by RT-PCR. Results: EGF treatment induced morphological changes and suppression of CD146 and CD10 markers. Additionally, the cells were capable of producing calcium deposits and increasing the mRNA expression to alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCN) in relation to control groups (p < 0.001). However, bFGF treatment showed an inhibitory effect. Conclusion: These data suggests that DPSCs in combination with EGF could be an effective stem cell-based therapy for bone tissue engineering applications in periodontics and oral implantology

Beneficial effect of systemic allogeneic adipose derived mesenchymal cells on the clinical, inflammatory and immunologic status of a patient with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: A case report

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is an incurable inherited mucocutaneous fragility disorder characterized by recurrent blisters, erosions, and wounds. Continuous blistering triggers overlapping cycles of never-ending healing and scarring commonly evolving to chronic systemic inflammation and fibrosis. The systemic treatment with allogeneic mesenchymal cells (MSC) from bone marrow has previously shown benefits in RDEB. MSC from adipose tissue (ADMSC) are easier to isolate. This is the first report on the use of systemic allogeneic ADMSC, correlating the clinical, inflammatory, and immunologic outcomes in RDEB indicating long-lasting benefits. We present the case of an RDEB patient harboring heterozygous biallelic COL7A1 gene mutations and with a diminished expression of C7. The patient presented with long-lasting refractory and painful oral ulcers distressing her quality of life. Histamine receptor antagonists, opioid analgesics, proton-pump inhibitors, and low-dose tricyclic antidepressants barely improved gastric symptoms, pain, and pruritus. Concomitantly, allogeneic ADMSC were provided as three separate intravenous injections of 106 cells/kg every 21 days. ADMSC treatment was well-tolerated. Improvements in wound healing, itch, pain and quality of life were observed, maximally at 6-9 months post-treatment, with the relief of symptoms still noticeable for up to 2 years. Remarkably, significant modifications in PBL participating in both the innate and adaptive responses, alongside regulation of levels of profibrotic factors, MCP-1/CCL2 and TGF-beta, correlated with the health improvement. This treatment might represent an alternative for non-responding patients to conventional management. It seems critical to elucidate the paracrine modulation of the immune system by MSC for their rational use in regenerative/immunoregulatory therapies.This study was supported by a donation from Berritxuak-Elkartea (2015/00397/002), a collaborative rare disease association and, from La Paz University Hospital as well as by grants from the Community of Madrid (AvanCell-CM S2017/BMD-3692) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2017-86810-R). The UCMteamis supported by grants from the Spanish Institute of Health Carlos III (RD16/0011/0002) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (RTI2018-093899-B-I00). MJE is recipient of a contract funded by DEBRA-Spain

Micronucleus frequency and exposure to chemical mixtures in three Colombian mining populations

La industria minera colombiana ha experimentado un crecimiento significativo. Dependiendo de la escala y del mineral extraído, se generan mezclas químicas complejas que impactan la salud de las poblaciones ocupacionalmente expuestas y de las comunidades cercanas a los proyectos mineros. Cada vez hay más evidencias que sugieren que la inestabilidad cromosómica (CIN) es un vínculo importante entre el desarrollo de ciertas enfermedades y la exposición a mezclas complejas. Para comprender mejor los efectos de la exposición a mezclas complejas realizamos un estudio de biomonitorización en 407 individuos sanos de cuatro zonas: tres situadas en municipios que explotan sistemas mineros de diferente escala y una zona de referencia sin actividad minera. Se analizaron sistemas de minería a gran, mediana y pequeña escala en Montelíbano (Córdoba), minería artesanal y de pequeña escala (MAPE) en Nechí (Antioquia) y un sistema de minería cerrada en Aranzazu (Caldas). El área de referencia sin actividad minera se estableció en Montería (Córdoba). La ICP-MS midió la exposición multielemental en el cabello, y la NIC se evaluó mediante la técnica de micronúcleos en bloque de citocinesis (MNBN). La exposición a mezclas de elementos químicos fue comparable en trabajadores y residentes de las zonas mineras, pero significativamente superior en comparación con los individuos de referencia. En Montelíbano, el aumento de las frecuencias de MNBN se asoció con la exposición combinada a Se, Hg, Mn, Pb y Mg. Este patrón distintivo difirió significativamente de otras áreas. Específicamente, en Nechí, Cr, Ni, Hg, Se, y Mg emergieron como los principales contribuyentes a las frecuencias elevadas de MNBN. Por el contrario, una combinación de Hg y Ni desempeñó un papel en el aumento de MNBN en Aranzazu. Curiosamente, el Se se correlacionó consistentemente con el aumento de las frecuencias de MNBN en todas las áreas mineras activas. Los elementos químicos en Montelíbano muestran un rango más amplio en comparación con otras zonas mineras, reflejando las características de la minería de alto impacto y a gran escala en la zona. Esta investigación proporciona información valiosa sobre los efectos de la exposición a mezclas químicas, subrayando la importancia de emplear este enfoque en la evaluación del riesgo de las comunidades, especialmente las de las zonas residenciales. © 2023 Los autoresThe Colombian mining industry has witnessed significant growth. Depending on the scale and mineral extracted, complex chemical mixtures are generated, impacting the health of occupationally exposed populations and communities near mining projects. Increasing evidence suggests that chromosomal instability (CIN) is an important link between the development of certain diseases and exposure to complex mixtures. To better understand the effects of exposure to complex mixtures we performed a biomonitoring study on 407 healthy individuals from four areas: three located in municipalities exploiting different-scale mining systems and a reference area with no mining activity. Large, medium, and small-scale mining systems were analyzed in Montelibano (Córdoba), artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) in Nechí (Antioquia), and a closed mining system in Aranzazu (Caldas). The reference area with no mining activity was established in Montería (Córdoba). ICP-MS measured multi-elemental exposure in hair, and CIN was evaluated using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus technique (MNBN). Exposure to mixtures of chemical elements was comparable in workers and residents of the mining areas but significantly higher compared to reference individuals. In Montelibano, increased MNBN frequencies were associated with combined exposure to Se, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Mg. This distinct pattern significantly differed from other areas. Specifically, in Nechí, Cr, Ni, Hg, Se, and Mg emerged as the primary contributors to elevated frequencies of MNBN. In contrast, a combination of Hg and Ni played a role in increasing MNBN in Aranzazu. Interestingly, Se consistently correlated with increased MNBN frequencies across all active mining areas. Chemical elements in Montelibano exhibit a broader range compared to other mining zones, reflecting the characteristics of the high-impact and large-scale mining in the area. This research provides valuable insights into the effects of exposure to chemical mixtures, underscoring the importance of employing this approach in the risk assessment of communities, especially those from residential areas. © 2023 The Author

Performance of standardised colposcopy to detect cervical precancer and cancer for triage of women testing positive for human papillomavirus : results from the ESTAMPA multicentric screening study

Correspondence to: Dr Joan Valls, Early Detection, Prevention and Infections Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon 69366, France. [email protected]. Colposcopy, currently included in WHO recommendations as an option to triage human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive women, remains as the reference standard to guide both biopsy for confirmation of cervical precancer and cancer and treatment approaches. We aim to evaluate the performance of colposcopy to detect cervical precancer and cancer for triage in HPV-positive women. Methods. This cross-sectional, multicentric screening study was conducted at 12 centres (including primary and secondary care centres, hospitals, laboratories, and universities) in Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). Eligible women were aged 30–64 years, sexually active, did not have a history of cervical cancer or treatment for cervical precancer or a hysterectomy, and were not planning to move outside of the study area. Women were screened with HPV DNA testing and cytology. HPV-positive women were referred to colposcopy using a standardised protocol, including biopsy collection of observed lesions, endocervical sampling for transformation zone (TZ) type 3, and treatment as needed. Women with initial normal colposcopy or no high-grade cervical lesions on histology (less than cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN] grade 2) were recalled after 18 months for another HPV test to complete disease ascertainment; HPV-positive women were referred for a second colposcopy with biopsy and treatment as needed. Diagnostic accuracy of colposcopy was assessed by considering a positive test result when the colposcopic impression at the initial colposcopy was positive minor, positive major, or suspected cancer, and was considered negative otherwise. The main study outcome was histologically confirmed CIN3+ (defined as grade 3 or worse) detected at the initial visit or 18-month visit. Findings. Between Dec 12, 2012, and Dec 3, 2021, 42 502 women were recruited, and 5985 (14·1%) tested positive for HPV. 4499 participants with complete disease ascertainment and follow-up were included in the analysis, with a median age of 40·6 years (IQR 34·7–49·9). CIN3+ was detected in 669 (14·9%) of 4499 women at the initial visit or 18-month visit (3530 [78·5%] negative or CIN1, 300 [6·7%] CIN2, 616 [13·7%] CIN3, and 53 [1·2%] cancers). Sensitivity was 91·2% (95% CI 88·9–93·2) for CIN3+, whereas specificity was 50·1% (48·5–51·8) for less than CIN2 and 47·1% (45·5–48·7) for less than CIN3. Sensitivity for CIN3+ significantly decreased in older women (93·5% [95% CI 91·3–95·3] in those aged 30–49 years vs 77·6% [68·6–85·0] in those aged 50–65 years; p<0·0001), whereas specificity for less than CIN2 significantly increased (45·7% [43·8–47·6] vs 61·8% [58·7–64·8]; p<0·0001). Sensitivity for CIN3+ was also significantly lower in women with negative cytology than in those with abnormal cytology (p<0·0001). Interpretation. Colposcopy is accurate for CIN3+ detection in HPV-positive women. These results reflect ESTAMPA efforts in an 18-month follow-up strategy to maximise disease detection with an internationally validated clinical management protocol and regular training, including quality improvement practices. We showed that colposcopy can be optimised with proper standardisation to be used as triage in HPV-positive women.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarrollo14-INV-036PINV18-25

Forest Biomass Density across Large Climate Gradients in Northern South America is related to Water Availability but not with Temperature

Understanding and predicting the likely response of ecosystems to climate change are crucial challenges for ecology and for conservation biology. Nowhere is this challenge greater than in the tropics as these forests store more than half the total atmospheric carbon stock in their biomass. Biomass is determined by the balance between biomass inputs (i.e., growth) and outputs (mortality). We can expect therefore that conditions that favor high growth rates, such as abundant water supply, warmth, and nutrient-rich soils will tend to correlate with high biomass stocks. Our main objective is to describe the patterns of above ground biomass (AGB) stocks across major tropical forests across climatic gradients in Northwestern South America. We gathered data from 200 plots across the region, at elevations ranging between 0 to 3400 m. We estimated AGB based on allometric equations and values for stem density, basal area, and wood density weighted by basal area at the plot-level. We used two groups of climatic variables, namely mean annual temperature and actual evapotranspiration as surrogates of environmental energy, and annual precipitation, precipitation seasonality, and water availability as surrogates of water availability. We found that AGB is more closely related to water availability variables than to energy variables. In northwest South America, water availability influences carbon stocks principally by determining stand structure, i.e. basal area. When water deficits increase in tropical forests we can expect negative impact on biomass and hence carbon storage

The Impact of Shame, Self-Criticism and Social Rank on Eating Behaviours in Overweight and Obese Women Participating in a Weight Management Programme

Recent research has suggested that obesity is a stigmatised condition. Concerns with personal inferiority (social rank), shame and self-criticism may impact on weight management behaviours. The current study examined associations between social comparison (shame, self-criticism), negative affect and eating behaviours in women attending a community based weight management programme focused on behaviour change. 2,236 participants of the programme completed an online survey using measures of shame, self-criticism, social comparison, and weight-related affect, which were adapted to specifically address eating behaviour, weight and body shape perceptions. Correlation analyses showed that shame, self-criticism and social comparison were associated with negative affect. All of these variables were related to eating regulation and weight control (p < 0.001). Path analysis revealed that the association of shame, hated-self, and low self-reassurance on disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger was fully mediated by weight-related negative affect, even when controlling for the effect of depressive symptoms (p < 0.050 to p < 0.010). In addition, feelings of inadequacy and unfavourable social comparisons were associated with higher disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger, partially mediated through weight-related negative affect (p = 0.001). These variables were negatively associated with extent of weight loss during programme attendance prior to the survey, while self-reassurance and positive social comparisons were positively associated with the extent of weight loss prior to the survey (p < .050). Shame, self-criticism, and perceptions of inferiority may play a significant role in self-regulation of eating behaviour in overweight people trying to manage their weight